Slot machine and playing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A slot machine comprises a display, a selecting device and a controller. The display has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas. One or more slot game areas to be activated are selected by the selecting device. The controller is operable to (a) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device, and (b) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-337541, filed on Dec. 14, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “SLOT MACHINE AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF” referred to as the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-337480, filed in Japan on Dec. 14, 2006, co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “SLOT MACHINE AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF” referred to as the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-337540, filed in Japan on Dec. 14, 2006, co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “SLOT MACHINE AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF” referred to as the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-337556, filed in Japan on Dec. 14, 2006, and co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “SLOT MACHINE AND PLAYING METHOD THEREOF” referred to as the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-343150, filed in Japan on Dec. 20, 2006, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The teachings of the co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference to the extent they do not conflict with the teachings herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a slot machine and a playing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional slot machine, a plurality of reels (e.g., three reels) on which a plurality of symbols is drawn spins, respectively, when a player inserts a medal(s) into a medal insertion slot and then presses a start button. The reels stop after a predetermined time has elapsed. At this time, a payout is awarded to the player according to the number of inserted medals if a winning symbol combination achieved on a preset payline. Alternatively, a payout is awarded to the player according to the number of inserted medals if a predetermined number of scatter symbols displayed.

On the other hand, in the gaming machine described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,052, a plurality of wheels provided above the reels begins to spin sequentially and then stops if a preset symbol combination has displayed on the reels after the reels has stopped. A large amount payout is awarded if the stopped wheels have brought a predetermined outcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have thought that provision of a certain slot machine is desired, with which a player can play a plurality of slot games instead of only one slot game by one time insertion of a medal(s) as described above. The slot machine can further stimulate the desire to play games of the player. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine and a playing method thereof capable of improving entertaining feature.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller. Each of the slot games is a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged. The controller is operable to (a) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device, and (b) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a).

It is preferable that the slot machine further comprises a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas by the selecting device, and the controller is operable to activate the one or more slot game areas in (a) up to the number of selectable slot game areas displayed on the sub-display.

It is preferable that the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas; an input device for inputting a bet amount; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller. Each of the slot games is a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged. The controller is operable to (a) determine the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated according to the bet amount, (b) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device up to the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (a), (c) place a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b), and (d) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b)

It is preferable that the slot machine further comprises a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (a).

It is preferable that the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a slot machine which comprises: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas; an input device for inputting a bet amount; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller. Each of the slot games is a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged. The controller is operable to (a) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device, (b) accept the bet amount input by the input device, (c) place a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a), and (d) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a).

It is preferable that the slot machine further comprises a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas by the selecting device, and the controller is operable to activate the one or more slot game areas in (a) up to the number of selectable slot game areas displayed on the sub-display.

It is preferable that the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas. Each of the slot game is a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged. The method comprises: (a) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated, (b) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (a), and (c) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b).

It is preferable that the playing method further comprises: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas. Each of the slot game is a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged. The method comprises: (a) inputting a bet amount, (b) determining the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated according to the bet amount, (c) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated up to the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (b), (d) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (c), (c) placing a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (d), and (c) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (d).

It is preferable that the playing method further comprises: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas. Each of the slot game is a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged. The method comprises: (a) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated, (b) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (a), (c) inputting a bet amount, (d) placing a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b), and (e) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b).

It is preferable that the playing method further comprises: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing eleven slot game areas displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) in first to sixth embodiments of a slot machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (slot game execution processing) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (execution processing for slot game on each slot game area) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (bonus game starting processing) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (bonus game execution processing) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (bet processing) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (bet processing [alternate example]) in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing one of the slot game areas;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a payline on the slot game area;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a payout table for slot games;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the slot game areas displayed on the LCD;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the slot game areas displayed on the LCD;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between bet amounts and bet areas in the slot machine of the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the slot machine of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the slot machine of the second embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (slot game execution processing) in the slot machine of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the slot machine of the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Characteristics of a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, ten slot game areas A1 to A10 are provided on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 16 (corresponding to the “display” in claims) . A slot game is executed in each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

Display areas of three rows by three columns are provided in the respective slot game areas A1 to A10. A credit(s) (corresponding to the “gaming media”) is bet by an insertion of a medal(s) or pressing of a bet switch 25. Symbols displayed (arranged) in the display areas are scrolled when a start switch 27 has been pressed and then the symbols stop (rearranged) in each of the display areas. In this manner, the slot game is executed in each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

In the slot game executed in each of the slot game areas A1 to A10, up to three credits can be bet and the number of activated paylines increases as a bet amount increases in each slot game.

The LCD 16 on which the slot game areas A1 to A10 are displayed is arranged in a center of a front face of a slot machine 10. In the slot machine 10, a bet can be placed on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 when a medal(s) is inserted into a medal insertion slot 21 provided below the LCD 16 (or a bet may be placed with internally stored credits by the pressing of the bet switch 25). The player can select (activate) the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be bet (activated) arbitrarily. In other words, the player can select (activate the slot game areas A1 to A10 on which games are executed with a bet placed. For example, it is possible for the player to activate each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 by touching it. The operation of touching the slot game areas A1 to A10 can be detected by a touch screen 69 provided on a surface of the LCD 16.

For example, one bet is placed on the slot game area A1 when the player inserts one medal into the medal insertion slot 21 after touching the slot game area A1. And then, one more bet is placed on the slot game area A1 when the second medal is inserted further. However, a bet is placed preferentially on the slot game areas A1 to A10 on which a bonus game is being executed. This will be further described in detail later with reference to FIG. 15.

It may also be possible that the player previously selects (activates) a slot game area(s) by touching the game area(s) and then places a bet(s) on the activated slot game area(s) randomly by inserting a medal(s).

After a bet is placed on the slot game, a payout (payout of a medal(s), or addition of credits) is provided according to the bet amount and a winning combination when the winning combination is achieved on the payline in the slot game on each of activated slot game areas A1 to A10.

In the present embodiment, a bet is placed on the slot game areas A1 to A10 by the insertion of a medal(s), however, a bet may be placed using a coin, bill, bar coded ticket, etc. In addition, in the present embodiment, the symbols are scrolled and then stopped again in the slot game. However, the slot game is not limited to that in which the symbols are scrolled. For example, the symbols may be successively switched over in each of the display areas and then stopped.

Further, in the present embodiment, a maximum bet amount is set to three on the slot game areas A1 to A10. However, the maximum bet amount is not limited to this.

Next, a configuration of the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment will be described. The slot machine 10 includes a cabinet 11 and a top box 12 provided on top of the cabinet 11, as shown in FIG. 2. The cabinet 11 has a main door 13. The LCD 16 is disposed on the front of the cabinet 11 facing the player. Various component devices are disposed within the cabinet 11, such as a controller 40 (see FIG. 3) for electrically controlling the slot machine 10 and a hopper 44 (see FIG. 3) for controlling the insertion, pooling, and payout of medals.

In the present embodiment, medals are used for gaming media at game play. However, gaming media is not limited to medals only. For example, coins, tokens, electronic money, or other equivalent electronic value information may be also used as gaming media.

The main door 13 is attached to the cabinet 11 so that it can be opened and closed. The LCD 16 is disposed on an upper portion of the main door 13. As will be described in detail later, the ten slot game areas A1 to A10 are provided on the LCD 16 and independent slot games are executed on the slot game areas A1 to A10, respectively. In the present embodiment, the number of slot game areas is ten. However, two or more slot game areas may be provided.

Nine display areas with three rows by three columns are provided on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. Various kinds of symbols can be displayed in each of the display areas. In otherwords, symbols displayed (arranged) in each of the display areas are scrolled when a slot game has been started and then stopped (rearranged) after a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, a payout is awarded to a player according to a symbol combination that stops in the display areas on activated slot game areas A1 to A10.

The touch screen 69 (corresponding to the “selecting device” in claims) is provided on a surface of the LCD 16. The touch screen 69 is partitioned into areas in a matrix. Some of the partitioned areas correspond to the ten slot game areas A1 to A10 displayed on the LCD 16 . In other words, a touched position can be detected by the touch screen 69 when the player touches each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

A payout counter 48 for displaying a payout amount is provided in a bottom left area of the LCD 16.

The medal insertion slot 21 and a bill validator 22 are disposed below the LCD 16. The bill validator 22 validates bills and accepts valid ones. Various operational switches (buttons) are disposed nearby the medal insertion slot 21 and the bill validator 22.

A cash-out switch 23, a max-bet switch 24, a bet switch 25, a spin/repeat-bet switch 26, and the start switch 27 are provided as the operational switches.

The bet switch 25 is a switch for determining a bet amount on each slot game on the slot game areas A1 to A10. As will be described later, each time the bet switch 25 is pressed, one bet is placed on a predetermined slot game area. The slot game area on which a bet has been placed is activated and a payout is provided to the player when a winning symbol combination has been achieved on an activated payline in the slot game.

The spin/repeat-bet switch 26 is a switch for placing a bet again without changing a bet amount placed by the bet switch 25 (and the max-bet switch 24) on the previous game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 and starting a slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

The start switch 27 is a switch for starting a slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 after bets have been placed on desired slot game areas. A slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 is started after a medal (s) was inserted into the medal insertion slot 21 or a bet(s) was placed by the bet switch 25 and the start switch 27 has been pressed.

The cash-out switch 23 is a switch for cashing out awarded medals (internally stored credits). The medals are cashed out from a medal cash-out chute 28 opened in the front lower part of the main door 13 and pooled on a medal tray 18.

The max-bet switch 24 is a switch for betting the maximum bet amount (e.g., thirty credits) that can be placed on a single game play by one pressing.

A foot display 34 is disposed on the lower front of the main door 13. Various images relating to the game of the slot machine 10 (such as characters of the slot machine 10) are displayed on the foot display 34.

Lamps 47 are provided on both sides of the foot display 34 and illuminate in a preset illuminating pattern. The medal cash-out chute 28 is provided below the foot display 34.

An upper LCD 33 is disposed on the front of the top box 12. The upper display 33 has a display panel and displays a payout table indicating each payout amount for each symbol combination etc.

Speakers 29 are provided on the top box 12. A ticket printer 35, a card reader 36, a data display 37, and a keypad 38 are disposed below the upper display 33. The ticket printer 35 prints out a ticket 39 including data such as a credit amount, time and date, identification number of the slot machine 10 printed thereon as a bar code.

The player can play a game at another slot machine by using the bar-coded ticket 39, and exchange the bar-coded ticket 39 for bills at a predetermined site in an amusement facility (e.g., a cashier in the casino).

A smart card can be inserted into the card reader 36 and the card reader 36 reads data from the inserted smart card and writes data onto the smart card. The smart card is carried by the player and stores the player's identification data and gaming history data of the games played by the player.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the electric configuration of the controller 40 and various components connected to the controller 40, which are provided within the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment. The controller 40 of the slot machine 10 is a microcomputer and includes interface circuits 102, an input/output (I/O) bus 104, a CPU 106, a ROM 108, a RAM 110, a signal communication interface (I/F) circuit 111, a random number generator (RNG) 112, a speaker drive circuit 122, a hopper drive circuit 124, a display control circuit 128, and a display controller 140.

The interface circuits 102 are connected to the I/O bus 104. The I/O bus 104 inputs/outputs data signals and address signals to/from the CPU 106.

The start switch 27 is connected to the interface circuits 102. A start signal output from the start switch 27 is transmitted to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104, after having been converted into a predetermined signal by the interface circuits 102.

The bet switch 25, the max-bet switch 24, the spin/repeat-bet switch 26, and the cash-out switch 23 are connected to the interface circuits 102. A switching signal output from each of the switches 23 to 26 is transmitted to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104, after having been converted into a predetermined signal by the interface circuits 102.

A medal sensor 43 is connected to the interface circuits 102. The medal sensor 43 detects a medal(s), which has been inserted into the medal insertion slot 21. The medal sensor 43 is provided inside the medal insertion slot 21. The detection signal output from the medal sensor 43 is transmitted to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104, after having been converted into a predetermined signal by the interface circuits 102.

The touch screen 69 described above is connected to the interface circuits 102. The touch screen 69 detects the touch operation onto the slot game areas A1 to A10 displayed on the LCD 16 by a player. The touch screen 69 is provided on the surface of the LCD 16. A position signal output from the touch screen 69 is transmitted to the CPU 106 via the I/O bus 104, after having been converted into a predetermined signal by the interface circuits 102.

The ROM 108 storing system programs and the RAM 110 storing various data are connected to the I/O bus 104. The RNG 112, the signal communication I/F circuit 111, the display controller 140, the hopper drive circuit 124, the speaker drive circuit 122, and the display control circuit 128 are connected to the I/O bus 104.

The CPU 106, triggered by receiving the start signal from the start switch 27, reads a game execution program among the system programs stored in the ROM 108 and executes a game. The game execution program is a program for executing the slot game in each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 on the LCD 16 using the display controller 140.

In other words, the game execution program is programmed so as to execute a slot game in which symbols are rearranged after scrolling in each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 and a payout is provided when a winning combination is achieved on an activated payline.

The signal communication I/F circuit 111, which is connected to a hall server etc., transmits gaming history data etc. of the slot machine 10 to the hall server. The signal communication I/F circuit 111 receives various data transmitted from the hall server.

The RNG 112 generates a random number for determining whether or not to achieve a winning combination in the slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

The display control circuit 128 controls displaying a payout amount on the payout counter 48 provided at the lower left area of the LCD 16.

The speaker drive circuit 122 outputs sound data to the speakers 29. In other words, the CPU 106 reads the sound data stored in the ROM 108 and transmits the sound data to the speaker drive circuit 122 via the I/O bus 104. In this manner, predetermined sound effects are generated via the speakers 29.

The hopper drive circuit 124 outputs a cash-out signal to the hopper 44 when providing a cash-out. In other words, the CPU 106 outputs a drive signal to the hopper drive circuit 124 via the I/O bus 104 when receiving the cash-out signal from the cash-out switch 23. As a result, the hopper 44 cashes out medals equivalent to the credits stored at that time in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 110.

The display controller 140 controls the execution of the slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. In detail, the CPU 106 generates an image display signal according to status and an outcome of the slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 and outputs the image display signal to the display controller 140 via the I/O bus 104. Upon receipt of the image display signal, the display controller 140 generates a drive signal of the LCD 16 based on the image display signal. And then, the display controller 140 outputs the drive signal to the LCD 16. In this manner, the slot game is executed (predetermined images are displayed) on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

Next, images displayed on the slot game areas A1 to A10 are explained with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a display example of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

As shown in FIG. 10, nine (three row by three column) display areas q11 to q33 are provided on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. Symbols are scrolled in each of the columns of the display areas q11 to q33 on the LCD 16 when the slot game is started on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10.

Five LEDs 53 a to 53 e are provided on the left side of the display areas q11 to q33 of each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. The LEDs 53 a to 53 e notify the activated payline(s) on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. As shown in FIG. 11, five paylines are prepared on the display areas q11 to q33. A horizontal line in the middle row is L1, a horizontal line in the upper row is L2, a horizontal line in the lower row is L3, a diagonal line going down to the right is L4, and a diagonal line going up to the right is L5.

The LEDs 53 a to 53 e light up according to a bet amount. In detail, only the LED 53 a lights up when one credit is bet. The LEDs 53 b, 53 c, in addition to the LED 53 a, light up when two credits are bet. The LEDs 53 d, 53 e, in addition to the LEDs 53 a to 53 c, light up when three credits are bet.

It is indicated that the line L1 has been activated, when the LED 53 a lights up. In addition, it is indicated that the lines L2, L3 have been activated, respectively, when the LEDs 53 b, 53 c light up. Furthermore, it is indicated that the lines L4, L5 have been activated, respectively, when the LEDs 53 d, 53 e light up. As a result, only the line L1 is activated when one credit has been bet, the lines L1, L2, and L3 are activated when two credits have been bet, and all of the lines L1 to L5 are activated when three credits have been bet. Then, a payout is awarded according to a winning combination(s) when the winning combination(s) is achieved on the activated payline(s).

An activation indicating frame 51 is provided on each peripheral edge of the slot game areas A1 to A10. Each of the activation indicating frames 51 lights up on the LCD 16 for the activated slot game areas A1 to A10. The activation indicating frame 51 lights up on the slot game areas A1 to A10 on which at least one credit is bet. It is possible for a player to easily recognize the activated slot game area(s) by the activation indicating frame(s) 51.

A bonus game indicator 52 is provided above each of the slot game areas A1 to A10. The bonus game indicator 52 of each of the slot game area A1 to A10 lights up on the LCD 16 during a bonus game (to be described later). It is possible for a player to easily recognize the slot game area(s) during the bonus game by the bonus game indicator(s) 52.

FIG. 12 shows winning combinations in the slot game on the slot game areas A1 to A10. As shown in FIG. 12, the bonus game is started when three 7 s are rearranged on the activated payline (e.g., the three 7's are rearranged on the line L1 (FIG. 11) when the line L1 has been activated). The bonus game is started when three 7's are rearranged on the activated payline. In addition, a 15-credits payout is awarded to the player when three APPLEs are rearranged, a 10-credits payout is awarded when three BELLs are rearranged, and a 2-credits payout is awarded when a “CHERRY” is rearranged on the leftmost of the activated payline.

Next, an operation of the slot machine of the present embodiment is described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing slot game execution processing. The slot game execution processing is executed by the CPU 106 (FIG. 3) according to the game execution programs stored in the ROM 108.

First, the CPU 106 executes area activation receiving processing for receiving a selection for activating slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S11). In the area activation receiving processing, the slot game areas A1 to A10, which have been touched by the player to activate, are detected by the touch screen 69. Then, the CPU 106 activates the touched slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S12). The CPU 106 lights up the activation indicating frame 51 on the peripheral edge of the activated slot game area(s) to notify the player of the activated slot game area(s).

For example, when the slot game areas A1 to A6 has been activated, the activation indicating frames 51 of the activated slot game areas A1 to A6 are lit up and the activation indicating frames 51 of the non-activated slot game areas A7 to A10 are not lit up, as shown in FIG. 13.

Next, the CPU 106 executes bet amount receiving processing for receiving a total bet amount on the slot games on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S13) . In the bet amount receiving processing, pressing of the bet switch 25 by the player is detected and the bet total amount is calculated. Then, the CPU 106 subtracts the bet amount having been input from an internally stored credit amount (step S14). For example, if the stored credit amount is 50 credits and a 30-credits bet amount is received, the stored credit amount will be 20 credits.

It is also possible to place a bet on each slot game on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 by inserting a medal(s) into the medal insertion slot 21. In this case, the CPU 106 recognizes the number of inserted medals as a bet amount. In this case, it is not needed to execute subtraction from the stored credit amount in step S14.

Next, the CPU 106 executes bet processing for placing a bet on each of the slot games on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S15) . The bet processing will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

After step S15, the CPU 106 determines a payline(s) to be activated according to the bet amount for each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S16). In this processing, as described above, the line L1 is activated when one credit is bet on each of the slot games on the slot game areas A1 to A10, the lines L1, L2, and L3 are activated when two credits are bet, and all of the lines L1 to L5 are activated when three credits are bet (see FIG. 11).

Although a detailed description will be given later, it is also possible to place a bet randomly on each slot game on the slot game areas A1 to A10. In this case, it is not limited that a bet is placed on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 in numerical order of the areas. For example, when the slot game areas A1, A3, A6, A8, and A10 are activated, one credit is bet, respectively, in the order of AB, A3, A10, A1, and A6.

Then, the CPU 106 determines whether or not the start switch 27 has been pressed (step S17). The slot game is executed on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 when the start switch 27 has been pressed (step S18). Then, the present processing ends.

Next, a processing procedure of the slot game executed on each of the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 is described with reference to FIG. 5. In the following description, a slot game in an activated slot game area A1 is described as an example. In the present embodiment, a slot game(s) is executed also in a non-activated slot game area(s). However, no payout is awarded even if a winning combination is achieved and a trigger combination does not cause a trigger in respect to the non-activated slot game area(s).

First, the CPU 106 determines whether a bonus flag of the slot game area A1 is “0” or “1” (step S21) . The default value of the bonus flag is “0” and set to “1” when the bonus game is to be executed.

The CPU 106 determines symbols to be stopped (hereinafter, simply referred to as stop symbols) in each of the display areas q11 to q33 on the slot game area A1 when the bonus flag is “0” (step S23). By this processing, symbols (“17”, “BELL”, “APPLE”, etc.) to be displayed in each of the display areas q11 to q33 are determined.

Next, the CPU 106 scrolls symbols in the display areas q11 to q33 (step S24) . Then, the symbols stop in each of the display areas q11 to q33 after a predetermined time has elapsed. The displayed symbols at this time are the stop symbols determined in step S23.

Then, the CPU 106 determines whether or not a bonus trigger combination (three 7's: FIG. 12) is rearranged on any of the activated paylines (step S25). For example, it is determined whether or not the bonus trigger combination is achieved on any of the paylines L1 to L5 (FIG. 11) when all of the lines L1 to L5 are activated.

Then, the CPU 106 executes bonus game starting processing (step S26) when the bonus trigger combination is achieved on any of the paylines L1 to L5. The bonus game starting processing will be described later with FIG. 6.

On the other hand, the CPU 106 determines whether or not one of winning combinations has been achieved on any of the activated paylines (step S27) when the bonus trigger combination has not been achieved. A payout is awarded according to a winning combination (step S28) when the winning combination has been achieved. On the other hand, the CPU 106 does not award a payout when a winning combination has not been achieved. And then the CPU 16 ends the slot game. It may be possible to cash-out a medal(s) equivalent to a payout amount through the cash-out chute 28 or to add a credit(s) equivalent to a payout amount to the internally stored credits, when a payout is to be awarded.

Next, the bonus game starting processing is described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6. The bonus flag is set to “1” (step S31) when the bonus trigger is achieved in step S25 in FIG. 5. At this time, the bonus game indicator 52 of the slot game area A1 lights up to notify the player that the bonus game is being executed on the slot game area A1. For example, if the bonus game is being executed on the slot game area A6, the bonus game indicator 52 of the slot game area A6 lights up as shown in FIG. 14 to notify the player.

Then, the CPU 106 determines the number of the bonus games T (step S32). The number of games T is, for example, fifty. The number of games T may be fixed or determined each time randomly by the CPU 106. The number of games T is stored in the RAM 110.

Next, a payout for the bonus trigger is awarded (step S33). For example, a 15-credits (15-medals) payout is awarded in the present embodiment. Then, the present processing is ended.

Bonus game execution processing is executed (step S22) for the next slot game on the slot game area A1 after step 21 in FIG. 5, when the bonus flag has been set to “1” in the bonus game start processing (step S31 in FIG. 6).

The bonus game execution processing is described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7. The CPU 106 executes processing for determining stop symbols (step S41) when the bonus game execution is started. This processing is the same processing as that in step S23 in FIG. 5. In step S41, three 7's are not rearranged on the payline, but the stop symbols are determined so that a winning combination is achieved with a high probability. In other words, a winning combination (three BELLs, three APPLEs or at least one CHERRY on the leftmost in FIG. 12) is achieved on an activated payline with higher probability in the bonus game than in the normal game.

Next, the CPU 106 scrolls the symbols in the display areas q11 to q33 (step S42) . This processing is the same as that in step S24 in FIG. 5. Then, the symbols stop in each of the display areas q11 to q33 after a predetermined time has elapsed. At this time, the displayed symbols are the stop symbols determined in step S41.

Next, the CPU 106 determines whether or not a winning combination has been achieved on the activated payline (step S43). A payout is awarded according to a winning combination (step S44) when the winning combination has been achieved. On the other hand, the CPU 106 does not award a payout when a winning combination has not been achieved.

Then, the CPU 106 decrements the number of games T stored in the RAM 110 (step S45).

Next, the CPU 106 determines whether or not the number of games T is “0” (step S46). The bonus flag is reset to “0” when “T=0” (step S47). In other words, the bonus flag is reset and the bonus game is ended when the predetermined number of bonus games has been expended.

Next, the bet processing (step S15 in FIG. 4) is described with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 8 and a table in FIG. 15.

The CPU 106 first places a bet preferentially on the bonus slot game(s) on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S51) after the bet switch 25 has been pressed or a medal(s) has been inserted into the medal insertion slot 21. After that, a bet is placed sequentially on the slot game on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 in ascending order of the area numbers (step S52).

For example, when all of the slot game areas A1 to A10 are activated and the bonus game is being played on the slot game area AB, the first to third credits are bet on the bonus slot game on the slot game area A8 as shown in FIG. 15. Then the fourth credit is bet on the slot game on the slot game area A1 and the fifth credit is bet on the slot game on the slot game area A1. One bet is placed one by one on the remaining slot game areas A1-A7, A9 and A10 (except the slot game area A8) according to the above procedure. Then, the above procedure is repeated to place second and third bets. In this manner, thirty credits can be expended to place a 3-credits bet on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10, respectively.

An example has been described above, in which the number of activated slot game areas during the bonus game is one (slot game area A8). However, a 3-credits bet is placed preferentially on the bonus slot games on each of the activated slot game areas when the bonus games are executed simultaneously on two or more activated slot game areas. And then, one bet is placed sequentially on the normal slot game on each of the activated slot game areas.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of another example of the bet processing. In this processing, the CPU 106 first places a bet preferentially on the bonus slot game(s) on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S61) after the bet switch 25 has been pressed or a medal(s) has been inserted, as in the case shown in FIG. 8. After that, a bet is placed sequentially on the slot game on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 in random order (step S62). At this time, the bet order for the slot games on the slot game areas A1 to A10, which are not during the bonus game, is determined randomly by the CPU 106 at each game play.

As obvious from the above description of the present embodiment, the medal insertion slot 21 and the bet switch 25 correspond to the “input device” in claims.

In this manner, the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be activated can be selected arbitrarily by the touch operation onto the slot game areas A1 to A10 on the LCD 16 in the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment. And then, a bet(s) is placed the selected (activated) slot game areas A1 to A10 and the slot games are executed on the slot game areas A1 to A10.

As a result, in the slot machine 10 of the present embodiment, the plural slot games on the slot game areas A1 to A10 can be executed in parallel on the LCD 16 in a single game play by selecting the plural slot game areas A1 to A10 (up to ten areas).

Since a player can arbitrarily select the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be activated by the touch operation, the player can freely select the slot game areas A1 to A10 to play the slot game(s), on which a bet is to be placed.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described above, in which the slot game area(s) A1 to A10 on which a bet(s) is to be placed is preliminarily selected. Then, a total bet amount is input and distributed on the selected (activated) slot game area(s) A1 to A10. However, it may also be possible that a total bet amount is preliminarily input and then the slot game area(s) A1 to A10 on which a bet(s) is to be placed is selected. Then, the bet amount is distributed on the selected slot game area(s) A1 to A10.

A slot machine of a second embodiment, which follows this procedure, will be described below with reference to FIG. 16 to FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 16, a slot machine 10A of the present embodiment differs from the slot machine 10 (FIG. 2) of the first embodiment described above in that a fix switch 30 and a selectable area counter 49 at the bottom right of the LCD 16 are added.

The fix switch 30 is one of the various operational switches disposed nearby the vicinity of the medal insertion slot 21 and the bill validator 22. The fix switch 30 is a switch for fixing a slot game area(s) to be activated among the slot game areas A1 to A10. A player is no longer able to select a slot game area(s) for activation the touch operation after pressing the fix switch 30.

The selectable area counter 49 (corresponding a “sub-display” in claims) displays the maximum number of slot game areas A1 to A10 that are selectable to be activated. If a bet amount, which has been input by pressing of the bet switch 25 or inserting a medal(s) into the medal insertion slot 21, is nine or less, the input bet amount is displayed as is in the selectable area counter 49. If the input bet amount is equal to or greater than ten, a value “10” is displayed in the selectable area counter 49.

In the slot machine 10A of the present embodiment, the activation indicating frame(s) 51 of the selected slot game area(s) A1 to A10 is blinked between having been selected (activated) by touch operation and being fixed by the fix switch 30. Since the activation indicating frame(s) 51 is blinked, the player can easily recognize the slot game area(s) A1 to A10 on which a bet(s) is about to be placed.

As shown in a block diagram of FIG. 17, the slot machine 10A of the present embodiment differs from the slot machine 10 (FIG. 3) of the first embodiment described above in that the fix switch 30 is connected to the interface circuits 102 and the selectable area counter 49 is connected to the display control circuit 128.

In addition to the differences in outside appearance and electrical configuration described above, the slot machine 10A of the present embodiment differs from the slot machine 10 of the first embodiment in part of the processing executed by the CPU 106. The slot game execution processing of the present embodiment will be described below (in particular, the part different from that of the first embodiment).

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing slot game execution processing that the CPU 106 of the slot machine of the present embodiment executes according to the game execution programs stored in the ROM 108.

First, the CPU 106 executes bet amount receiving processing for receiving a total bet amount on the slot games on the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be activated (step S101). In the bet amount receiving processing, pressing of the bet switch 25 by the player is detected and the total bet amount is calculated. Then, the CPU 106 subtracts the bet amount having been input from an internally stored credit amount (step S102). For example, if the stored credit amount is 50 credits and a 30-credits bet amount is received, the stored credit amount will be 20 credits.

It is also possible to input a total bet amount by inserting a medal(s) into the medal insertion slot 21. In this case, the CPU 106 recognizes the number of as a bet amount. In this case, it is not needed to execute subtraction from the stored credit amount in step S102.

Next, the CPU 106 calculates the maximum number of slot game areas A1 to A10 that can be selectable to activate based on the total bet amount and displays it on the selectable area counter 49 (step S103). Then, the CPU 106 executes area activation receiving processing for receiving a selection for activating the slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S104) . In the activation receiving processing, the slot game areas A1 to A10, which have been touched by the player, are detected by the touch screen 69. The CPU 106 blinks the activation indicating frame 51 on the peripheral edge of the selected slot game area(s) to notify the player of the selected slot game area(s).

Next, the CPU 106 calculates the maximum number of selectable slot game areas and displays the calculated number on the selectable area counter 49 (step S105). The value on the selectable area counter 49 is reduced by one when one of non-selected slot game areas A1 to A10 has been newly selected. For example, the calculated maximum number is ten when the bonus game is not being executed and none of the slot game areas A1 to A10 is selected yet. Here, the value on the selectable area counter 49 is reduced to nine when the slot game area A1 is selected. In the downstream bet processing (the content of the processing is the same as that of the first embodiment), there may be the case where the bet amount is distributed preferentially (during the execution of the bonus game). For example, three credits can be expended at once when the slot game area, on which the bonus game is being executed, is selected. The calculated maximum number is ten when the bonus game is being executed on one slot game area and none of the slot game areas A1 to A10 is selected yet. Here, the remaining number of bet amounts becomes seven when the slot game area, on which the bonus game is being executed, is selected at first. That is, the calculated maximum number is seven. In this manner, the CPU 106 calculates the maximum number of selectable slot game areas based on the total bet amount and distribution processing in the downstream bet processing.

Subsequently, the CPU 106 determines whether or not the fix switch 30 has been pressed (step S106). The CPU 106 determines whether or not the value on the selectable area counter 49 is “0” (step S107) when the fix switch 30 has not been pressed (step S106: NO). The processing returns to step S104 when the value on the selectable area counter 49 is not “0” (step S107: NO) . On the other hand, the processing returns to step S106 when the value on the selectable area counter 49 is “0” (step S107: YES). The CPU 106 activates the selected slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S108) when it is determined that the fix switch 30 has been pressed (step S106: YES). The CPU 106 lights up the activation indicating frame 51 on the peripheral edge of the activated slot game area(s) to notify the player of the activated slot game area(s).

Next, the CPU 106 executes the bet processing for placing a bet on each of the slot games on the activated slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S109).

The CPU 106 determines a payline(s) to be activated according to a bet amount on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S110) after the betting processing has finished. Subsequently, the CPU 106 determines whether or not the start switch 27 has been pressed (step S111). The slot game is executed on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 (step S112) when the start switch 27 has been pressed (step S111: YES). After that, the present processing ends.

Each processing in step S109 to step S112 is the same as that in step S15 to step S18 (FIG. 4) of the first embodiment.

As described above, in the slot machine 10A of the present embodiment, the total bet amount is held after the bet switch 25 has been pressed or a medal(s) has been inserted into the medal insertion slot 21. Then, the maximum number of slot game areas A1 to A10 that can be selectable to activate is calculated according to the held total bet amount and then displayed on the selectable area counter 49.

Then, the slot game areas A1 to A10 are arbitrarily selected by the touch operation onto the slot game areas A1 to A10 on the LCD 16 within the range of the calculated maximum number. The total bet amount is distributed on the slot games on the selected slot game areas A1 to A10 (the slot game areas A1 to A10 on which a bet has been placed are activated). Then, the slot game is executed on each of the activated slot game areas A1 to A10.

As a result, also in the slot machine 10A of the present embodiment, the plural slot games can be executed in parallel in a single game play by inputting a sufficient bet amount to activate the plural slot game areas A1 to A10 and selecting the plural slot game areas A1 to A10 (up to ten areas).

In addition, since a player can arbitrarily select the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be activated by the touch operation, the player can freely select the slot game areas A1 to A10 to play the slot game(s) on which a bet is to be placed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the slot game areas A1 to A10 to be activated are selected after the total bet amount is determined. Therefore, since the maximum number of slot game areas A1 to A10 which can be activated is calculated preliminarily, it is possible to prevent a selection of the slot game areas A1 to A10 beyond the calculated maximum number.

Since a bet(s) is placed preferentially on the bonus game(s) on the slot game area(s) A1 to A10, the slot game area(s) A1 to A10 which is to be expected a larger payout by the bonus game can be activated without fail.

The slot machines and the playing methods thereof are described as above based on the embodiments schematically shown, however, the present invention is not limited to the above. The configuration of each part can be replaced with an arbitrary configuration having the same function.

For example, in the above embodiments, the examples are shown, in which the slot games are executed in all of the slot game areas A1 to A10 regardless of activation. However, it may also be possible to execute the slot games only in the activated slot game areas A1 to A10. Alternatively, a movie, which is looked like a slot game, may be played on each non-activated slot game area.

In the embodiments described above, the “selecting device” in claims for selecting the slot game areas A1 to A10 on which a bet is to be placed is configured by the touch-screen 69 provided on the surface of the lower LCD 16. Then, the slot game areas A1 to A10 touched by the player are detected by the touch-screen 69.

However, as in the case of the slot machine 10B of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the selecting buttons 32A to 32J disposed below the LCD 16 together with the various operational switches (the cashout switch 23, the max-bet switch 24, the bet switch 25, the spin/repeat-bet switch 26, the start switch 27, etc.) may be used as the “selecting device” instead of the touch-screen 69. The selecting buttons 32A to 32J correspond to the slot game areas A1 to A10, respectively.

In this case, pressing of each of the selecting buttons 32A to 32J is detected by the CPU 106 and then a bet is placed on the slot game on each of the slot game areas A1 to A10 selected by the selecting buttons 32A to 32J.

In the above embodiments, the slot game areas A1 to A10 is configured by the LCD 16. However, the present invention is applicable to a slot machine which has slot game areas each of which is configured by mechanical reels.

In the above embodiments, the selectable area counter 49 (corresponding to the “sub-display” in claims) is configured by a partial area on the LCD 16. In other words, the “display” and the “sub-display” in claims are configured integrally. However, the present invention is applicable to a slot machine in which the “display” and the “sub-display” in claims are provided separately. In addition, the selectable area counter 49 (sub-display) can be disposed on the same display area as the slot game areas A1 to A11 as the above-mentioned embodiments, or disposed on the different display area from the slot game areas A1 to A11. 

1. A slot machine comprising: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas, each of the slot games being a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller operable to: (a) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device, and (b) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a).
 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas by the selecting device, wherein the controller is operable to activate the one or more slot game areas in (a) up to the number of selectable slot game areas displayed on the sub-display.
 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.
 4. A slot machine comprising: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas, each of the slot games being a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged; an input device for inputting a bet amount; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller operable to: (a) determine the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated according to the bet amount, (b) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device up to the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (a), (c) place a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b), and (d) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b).
 5. The slot machine according to claim 4, further comprising a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (a).
 6. The slot machine according to claim 4, wherein the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.
 7. A slot machine comprising: a display which has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas, each of the slot games being a game in which symbols had been displayed on each of the slot game areas are rearranged; an input device for inputting a bet amount; a selecting device for selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated; and a controller operable to: (a) activate the one or more slot game areas which have been selected by the selecting device, (b) accept the bet amount input by the input device, (c) place a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a), and (d) execute the slot games at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (a).
 8. The slot machine according to claim 7, further comprising a sub-display for displaying the number of selectable slot game areas by the selecting device, wherein the controller is operable to activate the one or more slot game areas in (a) up to the number of selectable slot game areas displayed on the sub-display.
 9. The slot machine according to claim 7, wherein the selecting device includes selecting buttons corresponding to the slot game areas, respectively.
 10. A playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas, each of the slot game being a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged, comprising: (a) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated, (b) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (a), and (c) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b).
 11. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 10, further comprising: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display.
 12. A playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas, each of the slot game being a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged, comprising: (a) inputting a bet amount, (b) determining the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated according to the bet amount, (c) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated up to the number of selectable slot game areas which has been determined in (b), (d) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (c), (c) placing a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (d), and (c) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (d).
 13. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 12, further comprising: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display.
 14. A playing method of a slot machine for playing slot games on slot game areas, each of the slot game being a game in which symbols had been displayed on a slot game area are rearranged, comprising: (a) selecting one or more slot game areas to be activated, (b) activating the one or more slot game areas which have been selected in (a), (c) inputting a bet amount, (d) placing a bet using the bet amount on the slot game on each of the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b), and (e) executing the slot game at least on the one or more slot game areas which have been activated in (b).
 15. The playing method of a slot machine according to claim 14, further comprising: displaying the number of selectable slot game areas to be activated on a sub-display. 